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Microbial flora is investigated to be related with neuropathological conditions in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and is attracting attention as a drug discovery resource. However, the relevance between the soil microbiota and the pathological condition has not been fully clarified due to the difficulty in isolation culture and the component complexity. In this study, we established a library of secondly metabolites produced in microorganism to investigate the potential effect of microorganisms on the production of amyloid β (Aβ), one of the most representative pathogens of AD. We conducted a library screening to quantify Aβ and neuronal toxicity by using cortical neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of AD patients after adding secondary metabolites. Screening results and following assessment of dose-dependency identified Verrucarin A, produced in Myrothecium spp., showed 80% decrease in Aβ production. Furthermore, addition of Mer-A2026A, produced in Streptomyces pactum, showed increase in Aβ42/40 ratio at the low concentration, and decrease in Aβ production at the higher concentration. As a result, established library and iPSC-based phenotyping assay clarified a direct link between Aβ production and soil microorganisms. These results suggest that Aβ-microorganism interaction may provide insight into the AD pathophysiology with potential therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Functional multilayer with VO 2 was proposed for passive emissivity control. • Suitable geometric parameters were determined using Bayesian optimization. • Bayesian optimization saved computational cost less than a few percent. • Radiative cooling was promoted with two isolated metallic VO 2 slabs. • Insulating VO 2 suppressed radiative cooling performance at cold environment. A vanadium dioxide (VO 2) film grown on a titanium oxide crystal shows a metal–insulator transition at room temperature with drastically changed optical properties. A multilayered slab with a sub-micron scale VO 2 film was proposed to utilize its unique properties for passive intensity control of sunlight absorption and radiative cooling. Its optimal geometries were numerically explored using the Bayesian optimization (BO) method. BO was applied for three types of multilayered slabs, those having one, two, or three isolated slabs of different widths. For each type of multilayered slab, BO could optimize geometric variables with practical calculation times considering the total number of possible combinations of variables, which is subsequently referred to as the total number of candidates. Optimization results revealed that two isolated slabs had the most suitable spectral absorptivity in both hot and cold environments. The infrared absorptivity of the double slab was kept low in cold conditions to suppress radiative cooling. However, the double slab exhibited good radiative cooling performance under hot conditions. Electromagnetic energy density surrounding the slab illustrated that metallic VO 2 and gold placed in a parallel manner excited the coupled mode of surface plasmon polaritons to enhance absorptivity. Radiative cooling faded for the triple slab because each slab could couple with radiation propagating only across a portion of the cross-sectional area. Through three BO trials, improvement of the VO 2 visible reflectivity was recognized as a future issue for further development of passive sunlight absorption control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As teachers are responsible for responding instantaneously to students' statements and actions, the progress of the class, and their teaching purpose, they need to be able to engage in responsive teaching. Teachers obtain information about students' learning by observing them in the classroom, and subsequently make instructional decisions based on this information. Teachers need to be sensitive to student behaviors and respond accordingly, because there are students who follow the teacher's instructions and those who do not in every classroom. Skilled teachers may distribute their gaze over the entire class and discover off-task behaviors. So how does a teacher's visual processing and noticing ability develop? It is important to clarify this process for both experienced teachers and student teachers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in visual processing and the ability to notice off-task behaviors in class between teachers and student teachers through gaze analysis. Using an eye tracking device, 76 teachers and 147 student teachers were asked to watch a video, and gaze measurements were collected. In the video, students exhibiting off-task behaviors in class were prompted by their classroom teacher to participate in the lesson. After the video, the participants were asked if they could identify the students who had displayed off-task behaviors and whom the teachers had warned. The results showed that teachers gazed at students engaging in off-task behaviors in class more often and noticed them at a higher rate than student teachers did. These results may be attributed to differences in the experiences of visual processing of relevant information in the classroom between teachers and student teachers. Thus, the findings on teachers' visual processing by direct measurement of gaze will be able to contribute to teachers' development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPr) and N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) is one of the most reliable receptor-ligand combinations for delivering antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to the liver. Here, we show that a modular GalNAc conjugation strategy allows us to reinforce the activity of the parent, naked 2′,4′-BNA/LNA gapmer targeting apolipoprotein B. The conjugation partly reduced a possible hepatotoxicity of the parent ASO. The structure-activity study revealed the significance of the metabolic susceptibility of the GalNAc moiety to nucleolytic cleavage that results in exposure of the parent gapmer. The broad usefulness of our delivery strategy of ASOs to the liver has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A fluidized bed type microwave plasma-assisted combustor was developed. • An experimental study using cellulosic fuel and silica sand was conducted. • The device requires good states of fluidization, mixing, and plasma formation. • The highest fuel conversion ratios were obtained at 4 L/min and 4 kPa. • Cellulosic fuel did not remain in the fluidized bed combustor after the experiment. A novel waste treatment method that can efficiently decompose waste, suppress by-product generation, and operate at a low cost is urgently required. Herein, a microwave plasma-assisted combustor was developed and its combustion characteristics were investigated for application in solid waste treatment. The experimental conditions for obtaining good states of fluidization, mixing, and plasma formation were examined prior to the combustion experiments. Subsequently, the optimal experimental conditions, such as the filling amount of bed particles, bed particle diameter, microwave irradiation position, and microwave output, required for good combustion were achieved. Combustion experiments based on these conditions revealed that a good fluidization state is required to obtain a good combustion state in this device, although the combustion condition does not necessarily depend on the system pressure at each O 2 flow rate. Comparison of the conditions with similar fluidization states at O 2 flow rates of 1–4 L/min revealed a maximum fuel conversion ratio at 4 L/min owing to the combustion promotion caused by increased O 2 partial pressure. The fuel did not remain in the fluidized bed combustor after the combustion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the large third-order optical nonlinearity of materials accurately, the influence of the irradiance (I[sub 0]) and sample thickness (L) on the Z-scan transmittance of PbO-containing glass as a representative material was investigated using simple and conventional Z-scan experiments and analyses. The transmittance difference between the peak and valley (ΔT[sub p–v]) in the Z-scan curve resulting from nonlinear refraction and the difference between the baseline (1.0) and valley (ΔT[sub 1-v]) due to nonlinear absorption deviated from a linear relationship at increased I[sub 0] and L. It was found that an analysis based on the linear relationship at large I[sub 0] and L underestimated the third-order optical nonlinearity due to saturation. Taking into consideration the saturation of ΔT[sub p-v] and ΔT[sub 1-v] with L under moderate irradiance, the intrinsic nonlinear refractive index (γ) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) of the present glass were calculated to be 1.58×10[sup -17] m[sup 2] W[sup -1] and 7.75 cm GW[sup -1], respectively. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncaging strategies that use near‐infrared wavelengths can enable the highly targeted delivery of biomolecules in complex settings. Many methods, including an approach we developed using cyanine photooxidation, are limited to phenol‐containing payloads. Given the critical role of amines in diverse biological processes, we sought to use cyanine photooxidation to initiate the release of aryl amines. Heptamethine cyanines substituted with an aryl amine at the C4′ position undergo only inefficient release, likely due electronic factors. We then pursued the hypothesis that the carbonyl products derived from cyanine photooxidation could undergo efficient β‐elimination. After examining both symmetrical and unsymmetrical scaffolds, we identify a merocyanine substituted with indolenine and coumarin heterocycles that undergoes efficient photooxidation and aniline uncaging. In total, these studies provide a new scheme—cyanine photooxidation followed by β‐elimination—through which to design photocages with efficient uncaging properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome editing technology using artificial nucleases, including zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), and clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9, can mutagenize the target sites of genes of interest. This technology has been successfully applied in several crops, including the Solanaceae plants, such as tomato, potato, tobacco, and petunia. Among the three nucleases, CRISPR-Cas9 is the best for breeding, crop improvement, and the functional analysis of genes of interest, because of its simplicity and high efficiency. Although the technology is useful for reverse genetics, its use in plants is limited due to a lack of regeneration protocols and sequence information. In this review, the present status of genome editing technology in Solanaceae plants is described, and techniques that may improve genome editing technologies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical studies on several parts of Dalbergia tonkinensis Prain led to the isolation and determination of one alkaloid 1 , thirty flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides 2-31 , one sesquiterpene 32 and one phenol 33 . The chemical structures of the isolated constituents were determined by analysis of their NMR data and comparison to those of reference compounds. Among the isolated compounds, 3-(1 H -indol-3-yl)-2-methoxypropanamide ( 1 ) is a new compound in literature and it is the only indole derivative isolated from the genus Dalbergia . In addition, new compound 1 and buteaspermanol ( 14 ) demonstrate the close relationship among the species of the subfamily Faboideae. Carboxyethylflavanones 18-21 and neroplomacrol ( 32 ) could be seen as biochemical markers for the family Fabaceae, whereas naringin ( 17 ) and 4-formyl phenol ( 33 ) are considerably regarded as chemotaxonomic indicators for the genus Dalbergia . The chemotaxonomic aspects of these metabolites are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, some studies have reported nephrotoxicity associated with a certain class of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in humans. One possibility for reducing the potential nephrotoxicity of ASOs is to alter their pharmacokinetics. In this study, we investigated the effect of a ligand conjugation strategy on the renal accumulation of ASOs. We selected two ligands, cholesterol and N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), with the purpose of reducing renal distribution and liver targeting, and then designed a series of cholesterol-GalNAc dual conjugated ASOs. The gene-silencing activity of the cholesterol-GalNAc dual conjugated ASO in the liver was slightly lower than that of a GalNAc-conjugated ASO. On the other hand, the renal distribution of the cholesterol-GalNAc dual conjugated ASO was considerably decreased compared with the GalNAc-conjugated ASO, as we expected. As dual conjugation was successful in reducing the renal distribution of ASO, it should be an effective strategy for reducing the nephrotoxic potential of ASOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter (PM) is mainly composed of combustible substances emitted from various combustors, with combustion technology improvement resulting in decreased PM diameter. Since the effective collection of small PM particles by existing removal devices is challenging, we fabricated a PM removal device of the continuous regeneration type, utilizing low-temperature fluidized bed combustion and relying on adhesion forces for the effective collection of small PM particles. For the above device, PM collection and combustion efficiencies increased with decreasing PM diameter due to the increased role of adhesion forces observed on a small scale and the adherence of dispersed PM to the surface of bed-forming particles (enhancing contact with oxygen), respectively. Furthermore, the constructed device was operated in a continuous regeneration mode, featuring simultaneous PM collection and combustion. Although existing continuous regeneration devices require temperatures of 600–650 °C for PM combustion, the device reported herein could be operated at a bed temperature of 400 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective thermal conductivity including radiation is analyzed using a homogenization method. This method can precisely represent the microstructure of a porous medium with ellipsoidal pores. Here, the effects of parameters such as porosity, pore shape, pore distribution, and temperature of the porous medium on the conductivity are estimated to clarify the mechanisms in complex pore structures. For example, heat transfer by radiation does not dominate if the medium has pores of less than 1 mm in size. Moreover, the anisotropy of the effective thermal conductivity is found to depend on temperature, pore shape, pore size, and pore distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object retrieval has attracted much research attention in recent years. Confronting object retrieval, how to estimate the relevance among objects is a challenging task. In this paper, we focus on view-based object retrieval and propose a multi-scale object retrieval algorithm via learning on graph from multimodal data. In our work, shape features are extracted from each view of objects. The relevance among objects is formulated in a hypergraph structure, where the distance of different views in the feature space is employed to generate the connection in the hypergraph. To achieve better representation performance, we propose a multi-scale hypergraph structure to model object correlations. The learning on graph is conducted to estimate the optimal relevance among these objects, which are used for object retrieval. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we conduct experiments on the National Taiwan University dataset and the ETH dataset. Experimental results and comparisons with the state-of-the-art methods demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to identify narrow-spectrum natural compounds that specifically inhibit an alternative menaquinone (MK; vitamin K2) biosynthetic pathway (the futalosine pathway) of Helicobacter pylori . Culture broth samples of 6183 microbes were examined using the paper disc method with different combinations of 2 of the following 3 indicator microorganisms: Bacillus halodurans C-125 and Kitasatospora setae KM-6054 T , which have only the futalosine pathway of MK biosynthesis, and Bacillus subtilis H17, which has only the canonical MK biosynthetic pathway. Most of the active compounds isolated from culture broth samples were from the families of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Only one compound isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. K12-1112, siamycin I (a 21-residue lasso peptide antibiotic), targeted the futalosine pathway. The inhibitory activities of representative PUFAs and siamycin I against the growth of B. halodurans or K. setae were abrogated by supplementation with MK. Thereafter, the growth of H. pylori strains SS1 and TN2GF4 in broth cultures was dose-dependently suppressed by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or siamycin I, and these inhibitory effects were reduced by supplementation with MK. Daily administration of EPA (100 μM), DHA (100 μM), or siamycin I (2.5 μM) in drinking water reduced the H. pylori SS1 colonization in the gastric mucosa of C57BL/6 mice by 96%, 78%, and 68%, respectively. These data suggest that EPA, DHA, and siamycin I prevented H. pylori infection by inhibiting the futalosine pathway of MK biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric isomerization can expand the scope of biological activities of natural products. The observed chemical diversity among the pseurotin-type fungal secondary metabolites is in part generated by a trans to cis isomerization of an olefin. In vitro characterizations of pseurotin biosynthetic enzymes revealed that the glutathione S-transferase PsoE requires participation of the bifunctional C-methyltransferase/epoxidase PsoF to complete the trans to cis isomerization of the pathway intermediate presynerazol. The crystal structure of the PsoE/glutathione/presynerazol complex indicated stereospecific glutathione-presynerazol conjugate formation is the principal function of PsoE. Moreover, PsoF was identified to have an additional, unexpected oxidative isomerase activity, thus making it a trifunctional enzyme which is key to the complexity generation in pseurotin biosynthesis. Through the study, we identified a novel mechanism of accomplishing a seemingly simple trans to cis isomerization reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric isomerization can expand the scope of biological activities of natural products. The observed chemical diversity among the pseurotin-type fungal secondary metabolites is in part generated by a trans to cis isomerization of an olefin. In vitro characterizations of pseurotin biosynthetic enzymes revealed that the glutathione S-transferase PsoE requires participation of the bifunctional C-methyltransferase/epoxidase PsoF to complete the trans to cis isomerization of the pathway intermediate presynerazol. The crystal structure of the PsoE/glutathione/presynerazol complex indicated stereospecific glutathione-presynerazol conjugate formation is the principal function of PsoE. Moreover, PsoF was identified to have an additional, unexpected oxidative isomerase activity, thus making it a trifunctional enzyme which is key to the complexity generation in pseurotin biosynthesis. Through the study, we identified a novel mechanism of accomplishing a seemingly simple trans to cis isomerization reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To remove PM2.5 effectively, we applied a fluidized bed to a PM2.5 removal device to take advantage of the adhesion force. An experimental study has been performed to investigate the effects of the PM diameter, PM inlet concentration and superficial gas velocity on the PM adhesion characteristics in a fluidized bed type PM2.5 removal device. The experimental results indicate that the collection efficiency of PM with a diameter of less than 2.25 μm was 100% for a PM inlet concentration of several tens of mg/m 3 and more than 90% at a PM inlet concentration of 100 mg/m 3 , which is a high concentration. The collection efficiency of a PM with a diameter less than 2.25 μm displays a nearly identical value under a superficial gas velocity of 0.3–0.5 m/s. The reason why the collection of PM2.5 displays a higher efficiency is that the behavior of PM2.5 is mainly dominated by the adhesion force in the fluidized bed. The fluidized bed type PM2.5 removal device displays an excellent collection capacity for PM2.5. However, when the PM diameter exceeds 8.95 μm, the behavior of the PM is mainly dominated by the gravity in the fluidized bed. The collection efficiency of a PM with a diameter less than 8.95 μm shows approximately 60% under a PM inlet concentration of 100 mg/m 3 and a superficial gas velocity of 0.4 m/s after 180 min, decreasing with the increasing superficial gas velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluidized bed has been used in a PM removal device to remove PM2.5 effectively through the use of adhesion force, experimentally demonstrating the capability for effective PM2.5 removal. In the present work, numerical simulations of this device have been performed using the Eulerian–Eulerian method for the further development of this device. The results obtained by the Gidaspow drag force model and using the EMMS method are compared to the reference data to verify the drag force model, and it is shown that the EMMS method is better than the Gidaspow drag force model. The filtration mechanism of Clift et al. was incorporated in the simulation code to calculate the behavior of PM adhesion in the fluidized bed type PM removal device. However, the predicted results differ substantially from the experimental results. Therefore, a PM adhesion model that considers PM deposition has been incorporated in the simulation code, and numerical simulations have been conducted to analyze the behavior of PM adhesion in the fluidized bed type PM removal device. It was found that these numerical simulations represent the characteristics of PM adhesion in the fluidized bed type PM removal device with a high degree of accuracy. The predicted results show that PM adheres mainly to the surface of the bed particle at the high volume fraction of the bed particle phase and is approximately uniformly collected over the entire bed particle phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The targeting of abundant hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) with trivalent N -acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) is a reliable strategy for efficiently delivering antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to the liver. We here experimentally demonstrate the high systemic potential of the synthetically-accessible, phosphodiester-linked monovalent GalNAc unit when tethered to the 5′-terminus of well-characterised 2′,4′-bridged nucleic acid (also known as locked nucleic acid)-modified apolipoprotein B-targeting ASO via a bio-labile linker. Quantitative analysis of the hepatic disposition of the ASOs revealed that phosphodiester is preferable to phosphorothioate as an interunit linkage in terms of ASGPR binding of the GalNAc moiety, as well as the subcellular behavior of the ASO. The flexibility of this monomeric unit was demonstrated by attaching up to 5 GalNAc units in a serial manner and showing that knockdown activity improves as the number of GalNAc units increases. Our study suggests the structural requirements for efficient hepatocellular targeting using monovalent GalNAc and could contribute to a new molecular design for suitably modifying ASO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan Domestic Agency (JADA) is responsible for six diagnostic systems in the ITER project. We have successfully developed a prototype instrumentation and control (I&C) system for the ITER divertor thermocouples system. The prototype I&C system includes a supervisory function, a sequencing management function, and a data acquisition function. The supervisory function, which was implemented using EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System), manages internal operations for measurement such as health check of sensors. We developed a conversion tool from flowcharts to EPICS record source codes. The EPICS records generated by the conversion tool are used to trigger each operation step and to indicate the progress of the sequence. We also developed the sequencing management function that coordinates the execution of operation steps. Both the flowchart conversion tool and sequencing management function were developed to reduce designers’ mistakes and to ensure rapid development. The prototype I&C system for the DTC was tested. We confirmed that the I&C system performed satisfying the requirements. This validated design will be applied to other ITER diagnostic systems procured by JADA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can suppress the expression of a target gene by cleaving pre-mRNA and/or mature mRNA via RNase H1. Following the initial endonucleolytic cleavage by RNase H1, the target RNAs are degraded by a mechanism that is poorly understood. To better understand this degradation pathway, we depleted the expression of two major 5′ to 3′ exoribonucleases (XRNs), named XRN1 and XRN2, and analyzed the levels of 3′ fragments of the target RNAs in vitro . We found that the 3′ fragments of target pre-mRNA generated by ASO were almost completely degraded from their 5′ ends by nuclear XRN2 after RNase H1-mediated cleavage, whereas the 3′ fragments of mature mRNA were partially degraded by XRN2. In contrast to ASO, small interference RNA (siRNA) could reduce the expression level of only mature mRNA, and the 3′ fragment was degraded by cytoplasmic XRN1. Our findings indicate that the RNAs targeted by RNase H1-dependent ASO are rapidly degraded in the nucleus, contrary to the cytoplasmic degradation pathway mediated by siRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple-turnover ability of a series of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) in the RNase H-mediated scission reaction was estimated using a newly developed cell-free reaction system. We determined the initial reaction rates of AONs under multiple-turnover conditions and found that among 24 AONs tested, AONs with melting temperatures ( Tm) of 40°C-60°C efficiently elicit multiple rounds of RNA scission. On the other hand, by measuring Tm with two 10-mer RNAs partially complementary to AONs as models of cleaved 5′ and 3′ fragments of mRNA, we found that AONs require adequate binding affinity for efficient turnover activities. We further demonstrated that the efficacy of a set of 13-mer AONs in mice correlated with their turnover efficiency, indicating that the intracellular situation where AONs function is similar to multiple-turnover conditions. Our methodology and findings may provide an opportunity to shed light on a previously unknown antisense mechanism, leading to further improvement of the activity and safety profiles of AONs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The growth behavior of anodic porous alumina formed via anodizing in a new electrolyte, squaric acid (3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione), is reported for the first time. A high-purity aluminum foil was anodized in a 0.1M squaric acid solution at 293K and a constant applied potential of 100-150V. Anodic oxides grew on the aluminum foil at applied potentials of 100-120V, but a burned oxide film was formed at higher voltage. Anodic porous alumina with a cell size of approximately 200–400nm and sub-100-nm-scale pore diameter was successfully fabricated by anodizing in squaric acid. The cell size of the anodic oxide increased with anodizing time because of the uneven growth of the porous layer. The anodic porous alumina obtained by squaric acid anodizing consists of amorphous Al2O3 containing 5-6 at% carbon from the electrolyte. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A 20-mer phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide having locked nucleic acids (LNA–AON) was used to reduce elevated serum triglyceride levels in mice. We repeatedly administered LNA–AON, which targets murine apolipoprotein C-III mRNA, to high-fat-fed C57Bl/6J male mice for 2 weeks. The LNA–AON showed efficient dose-dependent reductions in hepatic apolipoprotein C-III mRNA and decreased serum apolipoprotein C-III protein concentrations, along with efficient dose-dependent reductions in serum triglyceride concentrations and attenuation of fat accumulation in the liver. Through precise lipoprotein profiling analysis of sera, we found that serum reductions in triglyceride and cholesterol levels were largely a result of decreased serum very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triglycerides and -cholesterol. It is noteworthy that larger VLDL particles were more susceptible to removal from blood than smaller particles, resulting in a shift in particle size distribution to smaller diameters. Histopathologically, fatty changes were markedly reduced in antisense-treated mice, while moderate granular degeneration was frequently seen the highest dose of LNA–AON. The observed granular degeneration of hepatocytes may be associated with moderate elevation in the levels of serum transaminases. In conclusion, we developed an LNA-based selective inhibitor of apolipoprotein C-III. Although it remains necessary to eliminate its potential hepatotoxicity, the present LNA–AON will be helpful for further elucidating the molecular biology of apolipoprotein C-III. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Growth behavior of anodic porous alumina formed in malic acid solutions was investigated. [•] Porous alumina was formed at grain boundaries during the initial stage of anodizing. [•] Growth region extended to the entire aluminum surface as the anodizing time increased. [•] Anodic porous alumina with cell diameters of approximately 300–800nm is formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wickerols A and B were produced by a fungus, Trichoderma atroviride FKI-3849. Wickerol A showed potent anti-influenza virus activity against strain A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), whereas wickerol B exhibited weaker impact. The anti-influenza virus spectrum between wickerols A and B was different. The cyclization mechanism of the wickerol carbon-skeleton was investigated by incorporation of 13C-labeled acetate. A pathway through the verticillyl cation was predicted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is a typical Si-accumulating plant and is able to accumulate Si up to >10 % of shoot dry weight. The cell wall has been reported to become thicker under Si-deficient condition. To clarify the relationship between Si accumulation and cell wall components, the physical properties of, and macromolecular components and Si content in, the pectic, hemicellulosic, and cellulosic fractions prepared from rice seedlings grown in hydroponics with or without 1.5 mM silicic acid were analyzed. In the absence of Si (the −Si condition), leaf blades drooped, but physical properties were enhanced. Sugar content in the cellulosic fraction and lignin content in the total cell wall increased under −Si condition. After histochemical staining, there was an increase in cellulose deposition in short cells and the cell layer just beneath the epidermis in the −Si condition, but no significant change in the pattern of lignin deposition. Expression of the genes involved in secondary cell wall synthesis, OsCesA4, OsCesA7, OsPAL, OsCCR1 and OsCAD6 was up-regulated under −Si condition, but expression of OsCesA1, involved in primary cell wall synthesis, did not increase. These results suggest that an increase in secondary cell wall components occurs in rice leaves to compensate for Si deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the catalytic activity of Pt catalysts for methylcyclohexane (MCH) dehydrogenation, which is utilized for hydrogen transportation, the effects of the addition of Se on the performance of Pt/TiO 2 catalysts were investigated. In Se/Pt/TiO 2 catalysts, even a small amount of Se addition (Se/Pt = 0.01) improved the catalyst stability. Se was highly dispersed on the Pt/TiO 2 surface, without volatilizing in a reducing atmosphere at temperatures below 450 °C, and did not form an alloy with Pt. The analysis of adsorption-desorption characteristics revealed that the addition of Se promoted the desorption of products, including the main product, toluene. Moreover, an electron donation effect from Se to Pt was observed by FT-IR measurement after the reduction. The desorption characteristic caused by the electron donation effect suppressed the deterioration of the catalyst and allowed stable catalytic activity toward the MCH dehydrogenation reaction. • Se modification onto Pt/TiO 2 catalyst improved the stability for MCH dehydrogenation. • The stability was significantly improved even with only Se/Pt = 0.01 content. • Se was highly dispersed on the Pt/TiO 2 surface without alloying with Pt. • The Se addition promoted the desorption of the product, leading to high stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An experimental study using a flow reactor and a numerical simulation with a detailed kinetic model have been performed to investigate the reaction mechanism of NO formation from pyrrole decomposition. The experiments have been conducted in a quartz flow reactor by using a mixture gas of pyrrole, O2 and H2O with N2 as a balance gas at atmospheric pressure and temperature range 800–1400K. The detailed kinetic model consists of 505 elementary reactions and 89 chemical species, and the plug flow calculations have been carried out under same conditions as experiments. Model predictions are in reasonably good agreement with the experimental data for NO formation from pyrrole. Model predictions indicate that the main reaction pathways from pyrrole to HCN are direct reaction by pyrrole pyrolysis and pyrolysis reaction of HNCPROP (HNph name="sbnd" />CHh name="dbnd" />CH2) generated by ring scission reaction of pyrrole. HCN is converted to N2 or NO via NCO and about 90% of nitrogen in pyrrole is transformed to N2 or NO at the temperature of above 1400K. The residence time has little influence on the reaction rate and the reaction rate largely depends on the reaction temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The duplex stability with target mRNA and the gene silencing potential of a novel bridged nucleic acid analogue are described. The analogue, 2',4'-BNANC antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) ranging from 10- to 20-nt-long, targeted apolipoprotein B. 2',4'- BNANC was directly compared to its conventional bridged (or locked) nucleic acid (2',4'-BNA/LNA)-based counterparts. Melting temperatures of duplexes formed between 2',4'-BNANC-based antisense oligonucleotides and the target mRNA surpassed those of 2',4'-BNA/LNA-based counterparts at all lengths. An in vitro transfection study revealed that when compared to the identical length 2',4'-BNA/LNA-based counterpart, the corresponding 2',4'-BNANC-based antisense oligonucleotide showed significantly stronger inhibitory activity. This inhibitory activity was more pronounced in shorter (13-, 14-, and 16-mer) oligonucleotides. On the other hand, the 2',4'-BNANC-based 20-mer AON exhibited the highest affinity but the worst IC50 value, indicating that very high affinity may undermine antisense potency. These results suggest that the potency of AONs requires a balance between reward term and penalty term. Balance of these two parameters would depend on affinity, length, and the specific chemistry of the AON, and fine-tuning of this balance could lead to improved potency. We demonstrate that 2',4'-BNANC may be a better alternative to conventional 2',4'-BNA/LNA, even for "short" antisense oligonucleotides, which are attractive in terms of drug-likeness and cost-effective bulk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to determine if there is specificity in the host-pathogen relationship between the isolates of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal bacterium for rice blight and Leersia grasses, the alternative weed hosts of the disease. Plants of three species of Leersia, namely, L. sayanuka, L. oryzoides and L. japonica, were collected from various parts of Japan and were inoculated with the X. oryzae pv. oryzae isolates obtained from various locations in Japan and from 11 Asian countries. Four L. sayanuka plants were found susceptible to all Race II isolates and some Race I isolates, but were resistant to all Race III isolates. Race III is known to have a wider range pathogenicity to rice cultivar groups compared with Race I and II. Although the reactions of two L. oryzoides plants to Race I and II isolates were similar to that of L. sayanuka, the L. oryzoides plant collected from Niigata Prefecture showed a susceptible reaction to some Race III isolates. On the other hand, L. japonica plants gave reactions different those of L. sayanuka and L. oryzoides, with two plants of L. japonica found to be resistant to all test isolates collected from Japan. The Asian isolates exhibited a wide host range against the international differential rice cultivars, but almost all of them were avirulent to Leersia plants. These results indicate that the relationship between the pathogenicity of the causal bacterium and the resistance of host plants is very complex, and suggest that pathogenic diversity of X. oryzae pv. oryzae might be related to the resistance of Leersia spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In recent years, nucleic acid drugs, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), have attracted attention as a new modality for cancer treatment. In this review, we introduce and discuss an overview of various drug delivery systems (DDSs) and ligand modification technologies that are being employed to improve the success and development of these drugs. It is our belief this review will increase the awareness of nucleic acid drugs worldwide and build momentum for the future development of new cancer-targeted versions of these drugs. With the development of new anticancer medicines, novel modalities are being explored for cancer treatment. For many years, conventional modalities, such as small chemical drugs and antibody drugs, have worked by "inhibiting the function" of target proteins. In recent years, however, nucleic acid drugs, such as ASOs and siRNAs, have attracted attention as a new modality for cancer treatment because nucleic acid drugs can directly promote the "loss of function" of target genes. Recently, nucleic acid drugs for use in cancer therapy have been extensively developed and some of them have currently been under investigation in clinical trials. To develop novel nucleic acid drugs for cancer treatment, it is imperative that cancer researchers, including ourselves, cover and understand those latest findings. In this review, we introduce and provide an overview of various DDSs and ligand modification technologies that are being employed to improve the success and development of nucleic acid drugs, then we also discuss the future of nucleic acid drug developments for cancer therapy. It is our belief this review will increase the awareness of nucleic acid drugs worldwide and build momentum for the future development of new cancer-targeted versions of these drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The solitary spider wasp Cyphononyx dorsalis is well known to hunt spiders: it uses its stinger to paralyze its prey to feed its larva. This wasp venom was fractionated by bioassay-guided chromatography. Cation-exchange chromatography indicated that the pI value of the active principle was >6.5. 2D-PAGE analysis of the active fraction obtained by gel permeation chromatography showed three major spots of proteins. Two that appeared at pI of >6.5 were analyzed by in-gel digestion and protein sequencing. Three proteins were identified: an arginine kinase-like protein that was highly homologous to that of honeybee, an elastase like-protein that was homologous to that of fire ant, and an unknown protein that was not homologous to any protein in the database. Recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli were purified and used for bioassay. The results showed that the arginine kinase-like protein exhibited paralytic activity against spiders with the same characteristic symptoms as the crude venom. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To investigate the reaction chemistry of HCN oxidation, a modeling study was performed. The plug flow calculation code was used at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range from 1000 to 1400 K. The effect of initial H2O concentrations and that of other components were discussed. The oxidation of HCN is controlled primarily by the HCN+OH reaction in case of increasing H2O concentration. The oxidation of HCN starts at lower temperatures and the conversion of HCN to NO is inhibited by increase in H2O concentration. N2O formation by the NCO+NO reaction is inhibited by increase in H2O concentration because of the small amount of NO and NCO. In the presence of initial NO, NCO acts as a reducing agent for NO. NCO mainly reacts with initial NO, so N2O formation is not affected by H2O concentration. In case of adding CO, CO oxidation chemistry acts as a source of a radical pool, and HCN oxidation shifts to lower temperatures. Increasing H2O affects, the consumption of O radical and inhibits NO formation. The effect of H2O concentration on N2O formation is small because of the number of O and H radicals formed by CO oxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Several types of reinforced Nb3Sn wires have been developed to prevent reduction of superconducting properties by applying a strong electromagnetic force. To fabricate a cryocooled magnet using those reinforced wires, we experimentally measured the minimum quench energy (MQE) under cryocooled conditions of some reinforced Nb3Sn wires. As a result, it became clear that thermal stability expressed as MQE was controlled by the temperature margin between the temperature of the operating condition and the transition temperature from superconductivity to normal. Using the FEM analysis, it was realized that the cause of the decline in thermal stability for the reinforced wires was the low thermal conductivity of the reinforced materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a study which calculated the light propagation in a three-dimensional realistic head model by the finite difference method. Generation of the geometry of the model from axial slices of an MRI scan; Change in intensity detected by source-detector pairs caused by the brain activity; Efficiency of the source-detector arrangement.

The development of clinically relevant anti-microRNA antisense oligonucleotides (anti-miRNA ASOs) remains a major challenge. One promising configuration of anti-miRNA ASOs called "tiny LNA (tiny Locked Nucleic Acid)" is an unusually small (~8-mer), highly chemically modified anti-miRNA ASO with high activity and specificity. Within this platform, we achieved a great enhancement of the in vivo activity of miRNA-122-targeting tiny LNA by developing a series of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated tiny LNAs. Specifically, the median effective dose (ED50) of the most potent construct, tL-5G3, was estimated to be ~12 nmol/kg, which is ~300–500 times more potent than the original unconjugated tiny LNA. Through in vivo/ex vivo imaging studies, we have confirmed that the major advantage of GalNAc over tiny LNAs can be ascribed to the improvement of their originally poor pharmacokinetics. We also showed that the GalNAc ligand should be introduced into its 5′ terminus rather than its 3′ end via a biolabile phosphodiester bond. This result suggests that tiny LNA can unexpectedly be recognized by endogenous nucleases and is required to be digested to liberate the parent tiny LNA at an appropriate time in the body. We believe that our strategy will pave the way for the clinical application of miRNA-targeting small ASO therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acid and genetic medicines are increasingly being developed, owing to their potential to treat a variety of intractable diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the in vivo fate of these agents is vital for the rational design, discovery, and fast and straightforward development of the drugs. In case of intravascular administration of nucleic acids and genetic medicines, interaction with blood components, especially plasma proteins, is unavoidable. However, on the flip side, such interaction can be utilized wisely to manipulate the pharmacokinetics of the agents. In other words, plasma protein binding can help in suppressing the elimination of nucleic acids from the blood stream and deliver naked oligonucleotides and gene carriers into target cells. To control the distribution of these agents in the body, the ligand conjugation method is widely applied. It is also important to understand intracellular localization. In this context, endocytosis pathway, endosomal escape, and nuclear transport should be considered and discussed. Encapsulated nucleic acids and genes must be dissociated from the carriers to exert their activity. In this review, we summarize the in vivo fate of nucleic acid and gene medicines and provide guidelines for the rational design of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the measurement of the temperature dependence of the oscillation wavelenght in quantum-well (QW) lasers with different structures, examining the mechanism of the temperature dependence. Statistical data on structure parameters of QW lasers; Description of research methods utilized.

Organic dye-doped polymer optical fiber amplifiers (POFA) are fabricated and their amplification characteristics are investigated. Rhodamine 6G, Rhodamine B, and Perylene Red are used as organic dyes for optical amplification. The amplification of optical signals at 571 nm, 591 nm, and 621 nm wavelengths is confirmed through pumping by the second harmonic of a pulse-operated Nd : YAG laser. It is shown that very high output powers can be achieved by increasing the caliber of Rhodamine B doped POFA. One-kW optical signal output (30 dB gain) is obtainable at dye doping of 1 ppm, 500-μm core radius, and POFA length of 250 mm. The conversion efficiency of such a high output amplifier is 27 percent. The POFAs are advantageous over liquid-dye lasers because they are easily handled. Multistage POFAs in the form of joint POFAs are proposed as new light source systems and their oscillation characteristics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the conventional synthetic aperture technique the antenna directivity is assumed to be wide enough that sufficient phase information can be obtained with antenna scanning. This assumption is made in the experimental studies as well. With a sharp antenna directivity, however, sufficient phase information cannot be obtained and the reconstructed Image obtained by the conventional synthetic aperture technique has poor resolution. On the other hand, if the real aperture technique is employed, an Image of improved quality can be obtained with a sharp antenna directivity and the resolution increases as the directivity becomes sharper. The present paper deals with the case of directivity which is too sharp for the synthetic aperture technique and too wide for the real aperture technique. Theoretical and experimental studies are made on ultrasonic imaging by using the modified synthetic aperture technique for this case. Specifically, the actually measured point spread function is used in the synthetic aperture technique and it. is confined that a higher resolution can be obtained in this way than by the conventional synthetic or real aperture technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the methods for estimating and displaying forces acting on a rigid virtual object due to water. Water dynamics is divided into linear flow and nonlinear. It is stated that linear flow is approximated by the Navier-Stokes equation under the assumption that the flow of water is slow and the nonlinear flow forces is pre-computed around the object and a database know as the Fluid Resistance Map (FRM) is created. In this method, first the FRM is created in the preprocessing step and then the haptic rendering process computes forces and torques. The method may be used to develop two applications, lure-fishing simulator and a virtual canoe simulator.

Analyzes the carrier recombination coefficient of quantum well laser structures. Parameter of semiconductor lasers; Combination of two-level ambipolar rate equations and a carrier diffusion equation; Factors determining the recombination coefficient.

Highly efficient PM 2.5 filtration has been obtained experimentally using a fluidized bed. In this work, a CFD-DEM simulation was conducted to investigate the effects of operating conditions such as the superficial velocity, fluidization state, and PM size. These effects were assessed in terms of the capture ratio and the forces acting on the PM. A high collection efficiency is reproduced at PM diameters of less than 20 μm and superficial velocities of 0.3–0.6 m/s. Most of the PM is captured by adhesion in the bottom two to six layers of bed particles, where the void fraction is low. The adhesion force is the dominant force, and the drag force is negligible even at a superficial velocity of 0.6 m/s. After the PM is captured, it moves with the bed particles in this system. The adhesion force is still dominant for a 30 μm PM at 0.4 m/s. The capture ratio is 87.5%. However, the PM–bed particle collision velocity increases with increasing superficial velocity, and the repulsive force becomes large. The capture ratio decreases dramatically with increasing superficial velocity. The repulsive force becomes dominant for PM diameters above 40 μm, and most of the PM cannot be filtered. Unlabelled Image • CFD-DEM numerical simulation of PM filtration using a fluidized bed was conducted. • Highly efficient fine PM filtration was reproduced based on the van der Waals force. • Most PM is captured in bottom bed layer, where bed particles are nearly close-packed. • PM (≤20 μm)–bed particle adhesion force is dominant and, drag force is negligible. • Captured PM is stirred by fluidization but is retained on bed particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a theoretical study of the high-speed modulation response of Fabry-Pérot (FP) and distributed-feedback (DFB) quantum-dot lasers based on the rate equation models, making reference to available experimental data. We show that the K-factor-limited maximum modulation bandwidth increases with the maximum optical gain and that there is an optimum cavity loss to maximize the bandwidth at a given maximum gain, enabling us to design the bandwidth of FP lasers as well as DFB lasers with and without a phase shift. We present modulation wave forms of FP quantum-dot lasers to indicate that the maximum modal gain of 30–40 cm-1 is sufficient for 10 Gbit/s eye opening, which explains the recent success of 10 Gbit/s modulation of the quantum-dot laser with ten dot layers in the active region having the maximum modal gain of 35 cm-1. We show a design for low-driving-current 10 Gbit/s operation by shortening the cavity length with the optimum cavity loss maintained by the high-reflectivity coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal radiation in a packed bed is controlled by temperature, emissivity, particle size, and bed structure, including void fraction, particle configuration, and the number of contact points. Thus, thermal radiation plays an important role in higher temperature operation of bed reactors. In this study, effect of the radiation/conduction ratio, namely, the Biot number with a thermal radiation coefficient, on effective thermal conductivity was investigated to clarify heat transfer in a packed bed. The Biot number for thermal radiation was defined as a function of temperature, particle size, emissivity, and configuration factor. The results obtained by the homogenization method showed that effective thermal conductivity with thermal radiation is simplified by the Biot number. Finally, the behavior of thermal radiation in the packed bed can be expressed by a sigmoidal function with the Biot number, even though the bed structure is complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligonucleotide therapeutics that can modulate gene expression have been gradually developed for clinical applications over several decades. However, rapid advances have been made in recent years. Artificial nucleic acid technology has overcome many challenges, such as (1) poor target affinity and selectivity, (2) low in vivo stability, and (3) classical side effects, such as immune responses; thus, its application in a wide range of disorders has been extensively examined. However, even highly optimized oligonucleotides exhibit side effects, which limits the general use of this class of agents. In this review, we discuss the physicochemical characteristics that aid interactions between drugs and molecules that belong to living organisms. By systematically organizing the related data, we hope to explore avenues for symbiotic engineering of oligonucleotide therapeutics that will result in more effective and safer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]